New Research Reading Room at Mile End Library
A new Research Reading Room for researchers and academic staff was opened within the Mile End Library on the 29th September 2011. The development was based on a consultation with research students and staff carried out during 2009, the results of which included the need for a quiet, comfortable environment for research postgraduates and staff to work, away from the busier and often noisier parts of the Library. The room has therefore been designed along similar lines to The British Library Reading Rooms, with high specification study desks finished in oak and leather, providing larger than standard worktop space, and LED task lighting at each desk. It is located in the quietest part of the Library and is open during normal library opening hours. Access is restricted to researchers and academic staff, and is card-controlled using the College’s access system. Responses to the space have been very positive, and a steadily growing number of researchers are using the room on a regular basis. 

Project to digitise the Constance Maynard Diaries and Autobiography
A project has been launched to digitise and publish online the diaries and autobiography of Constance Maynard, the first Mistress of Westfield College. A pioneer of women’s education, Maynard helped to established Westfield College and for 31 years assisted hundreds of women to attain University of London degrees. The themes covered in her Green Book Diaries and autobiography include women’s education, sexuality, and religion in Victorian and Edwardian England.

Making these records available online for the first time will allow researchers to gain remote access to an extremely popular collection. By April 2012 digital surrogates will be accessible through the Archives Catalogue, and a stand-alone guide to the digitised material will be available. The project will culminate in Spring 2012 with an exhibition. To find out more about the project, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Changes to opening hours
A review of Library opening and service point staffing hours in relation to times of core student demand was carried out over the last year, using evidence from our Library Management and Access Control Systems, as well as feedback from users. As a result of this, opening hours have been increased overall, and changes have been made to those hours to better reflect peak demand. This includes changes to the weeks throughout the academic year when different opening hours are in operation, as well as to the weekly opening hours at each site.

Expansion of Department of Library Services
Queen Mary has been carrying out a review of all the Professional Services (non-academic) Departments over the last year. As a result of this, Library Services has been expanded to become the Library and Employability Directorate, including, as well as the Library, the Careers Service and a number of employability and learning support functions which were previously provided by other parts of Professional Services. Emma Bull, previously Director of Library Services, has become Director of the enlarged Directorate.

The Directorate now has an extended remit to provide Library Services and Careers and Employment Services, as well as Skills Development and Learner Support. It is the intention, in bringing these different activities together, to improve access, for both undergraduates and postgraduates, to a range of support services throughout their academic studies and into employment in their chosen career.

Staffing news
Lorna Rosbottom joined Queen Mary Library Services as Senior Academic Liaison Librarian for Humanities and Social Sciences in July 2011, having previously worked at London Metropolitan University. Lorna has also taken over the project management of the Queen Mary Student Experience Investment Fund funded project, Making Reading Lists Work.

Mehves Kayani-Hogan joined the Library staff in June 2012 on a short-term contract as Project Officer for the Queen Mary Student Experience Investment Fund funded project, Making Reading Lists Work. This project has three objectives: to embed the use of Talis Aspire (implemented at Queen Mary during 2011) in the creation of reading lists by module conveners, to find ways of improving communication between module conveners and the Library about reading lists and to improve the efficiency of the acquisition of reading list material by the Library.

Bryony Hooper joined Library Services in November for six months as Project Archivist. Bryony will be working on a project to digitise the unpublished writings of Constance Maynard, first Principal of Westfield College.